Lola, 100, credits smoking for long life

ZARAGOZA, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – At 100 years old, Dionisia Mamaclay-Reyes still washes her own laundry, walks alone with a cane, eats food with gusto and engages in neighborhood talk.

Born on Dec. 6, 1916, the “no ordinary” senior citizen still expects to add a few more years to her life as she goes on with her daily routine.

Lola Dionisia, as she is fondly called in Barangay Sta. Cruz here, still possesses impeccable sense of humor, nearly flooring everyone within earshot when she revealed that the secret to her long life is smoking packs of cigarettes every day.

“I have been smoking cigarettes since I was nine years old,” said Reyes who named brands like La Campana, Balintawak and Marvels, among those she consumed.

She said she felt good lighting up, destroying conventional wisdom that says smoking is bad for the health.

According to experts, smoking can cause lung disease by damaging the airways and the air sacs, which may eventually lead to emphysema, chronic bronchitis and cancer.

The American Lung Association also reported about 600 ingredients found in cigarettes. When burned, at least 69 of a stick’s chemical content could cause cancer.

Lola Dionisia simply shrugged these threats off, saying pampahaba ng buhay ‘yon (those would give you a long life) with a chuckle.

She consumes two packs of cigarettes a day and has not encountered any serious illness.

While puffing a cigarette during her interview by The STAR, she recounted visiting her doctor, Roland Valdez, who did not object to her smoking when she told him that this was her secret to a long life.

A mother of seven, four of whom are still alive, Lola Dionisia never entered formal school and could not write, although she is able to read materials like newspapers.

She loves to sing.

Her daughter Lucita, the eldest of the surviving siblings, said her mother is also fond of eating and drinking coffee, sometimes up to seven cups per day.

“She gets mad when I try to prevent her from drinking coffee,” the 66-year-old Lucita said with a laugh.

Lola Dionisia often goes for chicken wings and ripe mangoes, which are her favorite, finding these to be “so delicious.”

Lately, she has been gulping down bottles of a popular energy drink endorsed by retired NBA legend Michael Jordan which, her relatives swore, makes her feel stronger.

The chinky-eyed “super lola” still has good eyesight and does not wear eyeglasses. Occasionally, she would call her grandchildren over the phone.

Lucita said her mother usually starts the day by sweeping the surroundings of dirt and litter. Then she would watch TV, eat and take a nap.

When asked why she would not allow her children to take care of household chores, such as the laundry, Lola Dionisia said her children also have many things to do and that she does not want them to take care of the things that she could do on her own.

Her family has a history of longevity with two of her sisters, Gregoria Madrid and Consuelo, dying at the age of 105 and 103 years, respectively. Her husband, Nicanor Reyes, died at 97.

She still gets to mingle with her remaining children: Lucita; Antonio, 62; Ligaya Gatlabayan, 60; and Gerardo, 55. Gone were Ricardo, Gregorio and Juanita Castro who all died of various ailments.

Gregorio died of lung cancer.

Lola Dionisia wants to continue to enjoy life and live it to the fullest with her family and relatives.

“Gusto ko pang mabuhay dito sa mundo. Masaya naman ako. Ang mga apo ko mababait. Mahal na mahal nila ako (I still want to live in this world. I am happy. My grandchildren are kind. They love me so much),” she said.

Recently, she has been shuttling from here to General Natividad town and Cabanatuan City where some of her relatives live.

Cash gift

She hopes to someday receive the financial incentive granted under Republic Act 10868 that former president Benigno Aquino III signed a week before his term ended last year.

Under that law, all Filipinos, whether residing in the country or abroad and who reach the age of 100, will receive a letter of felicitation from the President of the Philippines and a P100,000 cash gift.

They will also be awarded with a plaque of recognition and an additional cash gift from their local government during the National Respect for Centenarians Day, set every Sept. 25.

An estimated 3,500 Filipinos were to benefit from the Centenarian Act.

Lola Dionisia lamented that of two other centenarians in her town, one died recently without even receiving a single centavo.

She does not want to suffer the same fate and appealed to President Duterte to grant her the incentive while she could still enjoy it.

“Mahal na Presidente, ‘yung benepisyo po sana e inyong ipagkaloob (Dear President, may you provide the benefits),” Lola Dionisia pleaded.

She also called on the provincial government, led by Gov. Czarina Umali and the municipal government, led by Mayor Louella Belmonte to do the same.

Asked what she would do if she receives the cash windfall, she said she would divide it equally among her grandchildren whose number she could no longer recall.